Friendship or food, is the new chicken or egg. Which comes first, is hard to say.

Friendships are built on the foundation of trust, love, care…. Wait, who are we kidding? The best of friendships are built on your shared love for food. And there ain’t no stronger foundation than that.

So here are 8 ways food, can make or break your friendship!

Lets start with the break, because making up is SO much better then 😉

Take your hands off my food!!

1. Where do we eat?!

Even Christopher Columbus would’ve taken lesser time and effort in finding America, than friends finding a place to eat. Deciding on a place to eat has the potential to turn into an endless debate! We have a strong hunch that the term ‘friends forever’ was probably coined by someone who saw friends discussing where to eat.

2. It’s not you, it’s me

Friends can never agree on who is the bigger foodie! Stuffing your face even when sometimes you’re too full, so you’ll never have to admit that your friend eats more than you.

3. The Veg – Non Veg Wedge

“Try chicken da, same as paneer only”

“You eat animals? Isn’t it disgusting?”

The amount of annoying question they throw at each other, makes the Vegetarians vs Non-vegetarians battle more apparent than the Indo-Pak conflict. And the pursuit to convert the other, is too real.

4. The final slice

It’s time to get your crazy on, when there is one slice of pizza but both you and your best friend eyeing it. As the two of you lunge for the last slice, there’s surely gonna be some hair-pulling and name-calling!

Food, unites

5. It’s a plan!

We only know too well, those sincere “health” pacts we make with our friends. Hitting the gym together, eating healthy and avoiding junk food goes really well…… for a week, after which one or both, gives in. SIGH. Whether the health pacts work or not, they do make your friendship, healthier!

6. Gluttony, our favourite sin

Hiding food under your desk during classes, over-ordering from your favourite restaurant or midnight snacking during sleepovers; binge-eating with your best friend is a wonderful thing. Also, the silver-lining of a heartbreak is of course lots of food, a movie line up and your best friend – the best therapy there is!

7. Raidy, steady, go

If it were possible, raiding fridges would become a sport, No one knows this better than two best friends, with an empty house and a stocked fridge! Waltzing into your best friend’s house, and raiding their kitchen like your own, is a sign of true friendship. Good friends share troubles and happiness; the best of friends share food.

8. We were just cooking!

There’s tsunami, earthquake, tornado and the likes, on one hand. And on the other, there is two best friends, cooking!

Nothing screams disaster like two best friends with full access to the kitchen, trying to channel their inner chef. But nothing brings best friends closer, like their crazy food adventures!

Friends who love to eat, are indeed the best of friends. Your love for food is as great as your love for each other. And that’s a beautiful thing. 😉

During the ancient times, Ragi was widely known and consumed, in India. But it is now absent in people’s minds and diets, which is quite unfortunate given its high nutritional benefits and healing properties. But even today, India remains one of the top producers of ragi a.k.a finger millet.

Here are 5 reasons why we should restore Ragi in our diets.

Rich in calcium

The calcium content in Ragi is very high, almost 200 times that of rice. Calcium rich foods, like Ragi, help maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis. For children, it will greatly help in bone and muscle development, and in strengthening the nervous system.

Has anti-microbial properties

Ragi has powerful anti-microbial properties and is known to fight against numerous bacteria, including Bacillus cereus, which causes food poisoning, Salmonella, which causes a typhoid-like fever, and Staphylococcus aureus, one of the primary causes of skin and soft tissue infections.
Ragi also protects against tumours, atherosclerosis, and possesses anti-cancer and anti-diabetic benefits. Indeed, a wonderful immunity shield!

Rich in EAA

Ragi is loaded with a number of Essential Amino Acids (EAA). Some of the chief EAA include are Valine, Methionine, Isoleucine, Threonine and Tryptophan.

Valine helps in repair of tissues, muscle coordination and in improving metabolism

Isoleucine is essential for ensuring blood formation.

Threonine helps maintain protein levels in the body

Tryptophan acts as natural relaxant and helps fight anxiety, depression and insomnia. This amino acid also aids in weight loss by reducing appetite.

Methionine, a sulfure based amino acid helps promote growth of healthy skin and hair. The sulphur, we get from Methionine helps produce a substance called lecithin which helps reduce cholesterol, reduce fat inside the livers and help protect kidneys.

Improves digestion

The high dietary fibre content in ragi, slows down pace of digestion but enhances the quality of digestion. This helps in lowering blood sugar levels, as well. Ragi also makes for great baby food because it is easy to digest and provides nutrients needed for the baby’s development.

Helps in weight loss

Compared to other cereals, Ragi’s natural fat content is low. The fibre content in Ragi keeps you full for longer, which in turn prevents overeating. Also the Amino Acid, Tryptophan reduces appetite thereby promoting natural weight loss. Doctors suggest that Ragi is best consumed in the morning, in order for our bodies to make the most of it and will keep us energised and full, through the day.

However, much like anything else, Ragi too should be consumed in moderation. Over intake can increase oxalic acid in your body, and is not advisable for people with kidney stones or other kidney & urinary problems.

Ragi is a versatile cereal, having several benefits as well as uses. Right from your breakfast to your desserts, Ragi can be incorporated in many ways and even a small quantity can reap you several health benefits.

Happy to share the excitement we experienced when we introduced our first products in the market, Ragi Flakes and Multimillet Flakes!

After months of hard work and sleepless nights in bringing out our first products, we were anxious about their acceptance by the larger audience. Though our limited test marketing and sampling activities gave us encouraging results, we kept our fingers crossed when we started placing our products in retail shelves. With a fluttery feeling in the stomach, nervousness within and managing a smile, we stepped into the market to introduce our products.

WOW! What a moment it was when we heard the first comment, “It’s Good. The flavours are definitely different. I would like to buy one.”

There were many more encouraging responses from all those who tasted our products during our promotions. Enthused and armed with confidence, we have just started running the distance to reach many more consumers. And, by the way our flakes have their cousins in exciting fruity avatars which would hit the market soon. There’s the same feeling of butterflies in the stomach. But, that’s fun!

Pondicherry, India: Bioville Farms Pvt. Ltd. distributed its breakfast products to a few organizations supporting homeless elders and needy children in the society in an event recently held at its headquarters in Pondicherry. The event coincides with the launch of a range of millet based breakfast cereal products in the market, which is marketed under the brand name Farmerie.

Mr. Sriram, stated during the event that “It is indeed a very happy moment for our company to share our healthy range of food products we are launching to the needy ones in our society first before taking to the mass market.”

Farmerie’s Organic Fruits & Vegetables are available in Pondicherry and Chennai markets since 2014 and is planning to introduce a healthy range of Natural Food Products in September 2015.

About Bioville Farms – Bioville Farms Pvt. Ltd. markets Natural, Traditional, Wellness and Organic Products, under an umbrella brand – Farmerie. Brand Farmerie was created to address the needs of the consumers seeking safe and healthy food. The brand stands for products that packages goodness of nature by using only naturally / organically grown produce and processed naturally – no artificial additives or chemical preservatives.